Effects of low birth weight, maternal smoking in pregnancy and social class on the phenotypic manifestation of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and associated antisocial behaviour: investigation in a clinical sample

2007

Impact of Low Birth Weight, Maternal Smoking, and Social Class on ADHD Symptoms

Sample size: 356 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kate Langley, Peter A Holmans, Marianne BM van den Bree, Anita Thapar

Primary Institution: Cardiff University

Hypothesis

Environmental risk factors such as maternal smoking during pregnancy, low birth weight, and social class influence the clinical manifestation of ADHD.

Conclusion

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and lower social class independently affect the severity of hyperactive-impulsive symptoms and the diagnosis of Conduct Disorder in children with ADHD.

Supporting Evidence

Maternal smoking during pregnancy was significantly associated with increased hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.
Lower social class was also linked to greater hyperactive-impulsive symptom severity.
Conduct Disorder symptoms were positively predicted by maternal smoking during pregnancy.

Takeaway

Kids with ADHD might have more problems if their moms smoked while pregnant or if they come from a poorer background.

Methodology

The study involved 356 children diagnosed with ADHD, assessing the impact of maternal smoking, birth weight, and social class on ADHD symptoms and comorbid Conduct Disorder.